Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

Matthew Arlington Batson

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

Arlington
National Cemetery
2-3604WS

BORN:April 24, 1866 at Anna, IL

Entered Service in the US
Army from Carbondale, IL

Earned
The Medal of Honor During the Philippine Insurrection For
heroism on July 26, 1899 at Calamba, Luzon, Philippine Islands

DIED:January
13, 1917 at the age of 50

From the spring
of 1898 until early the following year, most battles in the
Philippine Islands were sporadic ambushes of small American
patrols in the jungles, as the U.S. Army sought to root out the
rebel forces of Emilio Aguinaldo. On July 26, 1899, a patrol of
the 4th U.S. Cavalry was ambushed in the jungles along the river
in Calamba, Luzon, Philippine Islands. In the face of heavy enemy
fire, First Lieutenant Matthew Batson and Captain Hugh McGrath
swam the river, attacking the enemy entrenchments on the opposite
shore, and driving the ambushers out of their fortified positions.
Both officers received Medals of Honor for this action.